Rutgers' Gary Nova gets empathy from former quarterback Mike Teel

Noah K. Murray/The Star-LedgerRutgers true freshman quarterback Gary Nova is tackled during last week's 41-31 loss to West Virginia. Nova and the Scarlet Knights will look to snap a two-game losing streak tonight against South Florida.

Few people can empathize more with the growing pains being experienced by Rutgers true freshman quarterback Gary Nova than former Scarlet Knight Mike Teel.

Teel played the same position. He, too, was raised in New Jersey. He went to the same high school — Don Bosco Prep — and compiled a 23-0 record and won two state titles compared to Nova’s 24-0 mark and two state championships. He, too, was embroiled in a quarterback controversy. He, too, threw way too many interceptions in his first season.

Teel, the Scarlet Knights’ all-time passing leader, threw two touchdowns and 10 interceptions in eight games (three starts) as a redshirt freshman in 2005. An angry fan base wanted senior Ryan Hart, the incumbent whom they felt was getting a raw deal.

“One-hundred percent I understand what Gary is going through,” said Teel, who led the Scarlet Knights to an 11-2 record and No. 12 ranking his sophomore season in 2006. “Any young quarterback goes through struggles. If you don’t struggle, you’re not going to get better. That’s the only learning tool. The way you get better is through your mistakes.

“I threw interceptions (he’s tied for second with Mike McMahon on the school’s all-time list with 49). But I just kept throwing. If you’re scared of throwing interceptions, you shouldn’t being playing the position. You can’t worry about it. It’s in the past. You have to play in the present.”

Tonight, despite having nine turnovers in the past three games, Nova will make his fifth consecutive start over sophomore Chas Dodd when the Scarlet Knights (5-3, 2-2 in Big East) meet South Florida (4-3, 0-3) at High Point Solutions Stadium. Coach Greg Schiano’s decision to stay with Nova has been a head-scratcher.

On Monday, Schiano hinted that Nova, who has thrown seven interceptions and nine touchdowns in seven games, would be on a short leash against South Florida.

On Thursday, he seemed to backtrack a bit, saying “Every game is its own entity. Certain turnovers, you can’t couple them all together. That’s where you get in trouble. If somebody tips the ball and the other (team) catches it, is that the quarterback? To me, you have your gut feeling (about when to pull your quarterback).”

Offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti, who recruited Nova and has a strong bond with him, has near complete autonomy with the offense and is firmly in Nova’s corner. Schiano, however, said this week he has to be “smarter” as the head coach and “hold people accountable just a little bit more.”

Thus, Schiano will likely have little patience with Nova if he struggles early in spite of the vote of confidence in his young quarterback.

“I have to understand it’s okay to punt,” said Nova, who has shown flashes of promise during his four starts (2-2). “In high school, you think you can make every play. Now, you just have to know to throw it away and live for the next series.”

The Scarlet Knights have lost two straight, in part, because of Nova’s miscues. He threw three interceptions in a 16-14 loss to Louisville and his four turnovers against West Virginia led to 14 points.

Teel and Nova are friends but Teel said the pair haven’t spoken in about a month. He said Nova knows he’s just a phone call away.

“I know what its like to be in that position and have everybody — family, friends, people on campus — pulling you every which way,” said Teel, currently the quarterbacks coach at Kean University. “I don’t want to be another person in his ear. You have to keep all the noise out.

“I understand fans (wanting Dodd) but I’m willing to bet all the mistakes Gary has made aren’t all on him. I’ve known Coach Schiano for a long time and he’s going to make the decision that he feels gives the team the best chance to win. There’s a reason he’s doing what he’s doing.”